[News] USA Olympic Roster announced

[automaton 3]

Not so sure about Nash, or Lucic for that matter if it would mean leaving players like St. Louis and Sharp at home. Giroux had a tough start but has picked it up as of late and also should be in the discussion IMO

[Da_Chief]

Nash is an automatic selection, if you don't think so then you're not paying attention.

[LChoy]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Nash is an automatic selection, if you don't think so then you're not paying attention.

Out of curiosity, why?

I don't watch too many Ranger games, but at 16 points (7G9A) and -2, I don't see the appeal

[19Yzerman19]

Originally Posted by badger89

Reminds me of that scene in Moneyball...
"The kid has an ugly girlfriend."
"What does that mean?"
"Ugly girl friend means no confidence."

This is remarkably apt.

[Roof-Daddy]

Canada, as always, has a ton of depth to choose from so omitting Nash isn't unreasonable, but the consideration of him making this team is far from "LOL" worthy.

The guy is having a rough year battling through injuries, but he is a Team Canada main stay. 4 World Championships, and 2 Olympic Games....and he's big, fast, good defensively, willing to play a depth role, etc, etc...

[moon]

I don't see Nash making it and don't really have him close but not a crazy thought to have him. Now I didn't watch the CBC piece where it was indicated that he was close.

I think that Crosby, Toews, Stamkos (if healthy), Tavares, Bergeron, Getzlaf, Perry are automatics.

I had Sharp, E. Staal, Giroux, Couture, Kunitz and Duchene on my team right now just beating out St. Louis, Benn, Seguin and Thornton. I have a hard time seeing Nash beating out Kunitz, Duchene, Benn but he is a LW with history and the two guys I have in the top 2 spots are probably the last two I added to the team.

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by Ring of Fire

It sounds like they're really hoping Stamkos will be ready. Benn's stock has shot up, Chiarelli was really pushing for Lucic and they were heavily scouting the Sharks.

Here's the players that I think are either on the team or really close based on watching the documentary:

Forwards (17 - 3 will be cut): Crosby, Stamkos (if healthy), Toews, Bergeron, Getzlaf, Perry, Nash, Duchene, Carter, E Staal, Kunitz, Benn, Lucic, Couture, Thornton, Tavares, Eberle

Defence (9 - 1 will be cut): Keith, Weber, Doughty, Pietrangelo, Seabrook, Bouwmeester, Seabrook, Subban, Boyle, Vlasic

Goalies (3): Price, Smith, Luongo

I have the same 3 goalies as you with Smith being the #3. I also have 8 of those 9 making the team on defense. 1 won't make it and that will be either Seabrook or Subban.

Up front: Crosby, Stamkos, Kunitz, Toews, Tavares, Getzlaf, Perry, Sharp, Bergeron, Hall, Duchene, Giroux, Thornton, Couture. Those would be my 14.

Nash and St. Louis could be there too (especially if Stamkos is healthy). E. Staal is right on the cusp for me too in forward spot.

Eberle, Carter, Lucic, and Benn wouldn't make my team.

[trackercowe]

Pretty much gotta agree with Moon and Oilfan's assessments, although if Stamkos is going to be healthy then taking St. Louis might be a good idea. Wouldn't Stamkos and St. Louis be more of a dynamic duo then Kunitz and Crosby? Maybe not defensively, but offensively I don't think their is a better pairing than them.

I also don't even see why Nash is even in consideration at this point. Does he have more International experience then others? Sure, but most of that came from playing in the World's, when the Blue Jackets didn't even make the playoffs. He's not off to a great start this year either, and has been surpassed by many other players. I'd honestly take Benn before him, but hey that's just me. Lucic and Seguin would be right there as well. The only reason they might take Nash is because of the chemistry he had in 2010, but is that really enough?

[Da_Chief]

Kunitz lovefest seriously has to stop, hes a glorified third liner. What happens if Crosby gets injured? Then where does Kunitz play?

Crosby in the past has shown he can play with elite talent. Ask yourself if the Pens had a choice of playing Nash/Benn/Lucic etc with Sid versus Kunitz, who would they choose?

[moon]

Lucic would be a nightmare at the Olympics I don't know why/how he is even in consideration.

Poor skating, limited offense (for this level), mediocre defense and a penalty magnate in international play.

I would have Lucic far, far down the list of guys to go to the Olympics especially on big ice.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Kunitz lovefest seriously has to stop, hes a glorified third liner. What happens if Crosby gets injured? Then where does Kunitz play?

Crosby in the past has shown he can play with elite talent. Ask yourself if the Pens had a choice of playing Nash/Benn/Lucic etc with Sid versus Kunitz, who would they choose?

He is top 10 in the NHL scoring right now. If the Pens had the choice my guess is they easily choose Kunitz over Lucic and Nash.

Probably take Benn long term but for a short tournament hard to argue with what is working right now.

[trackercowe]

Yeah I don't see Lucic either. He's too inconsistent as well. He might play great for a game or two, then completely shutdown when things are on the line. He played like crap throughout much of last season, and then stepped up his game in the playoffs. They do need one or two physical threats on the team though mind you, which is why Benn and Seabrook might just make it. Unless they feel that Perry, Getzlaf, Towes, and possibly Staal fit the build. I hope Mike Richards is considered for a bottom six spot as well, but I guess it depends on if he can play the wing.

Or maybe James Neal with how he's been playing recently, not everyone's favorite player mind you, but he does bring a physical aspect to the game.

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Pretty much gotta agree with Moon and Oilfan's assessments, although if Stamkos is going to be healthy then taking St. Louis might be a good idea. Wouldn't Stamkos and St. Louis be more of a dynamic duo then Kunitz and Crosby? Maybe not defensively, but offensively I don't think their is a better pairing than them.

I also don't even see why Nash is even in consideration at this point. Does he have more International experience then others? Sure, but most of that came from playing in the World's, when the Blue Jackets didn't even make the playoffs. He's not off to a great start this year either, and has been surpassed by many other players. I'd honestly take Benn before him, but hey that's just me. Lucic and Seguin would be right there as well. The only reason they might take Nash is because of the chemistry he had in 2010, but is that really enough?

Yeah I didn't include Nash on my roster of 14 forwards but I did have him in consideration only because his international experience and he can be a dynamic goal scorer when he wants. If he was having a good year he would have been on my team for sure but I don't think he deserves to be on the team at this point. In terms of St. Louis, I agree with you. If Stamkos is healthy I could see him there (which is what I mentioned in my post).

[Flash Walken]

As soon as you start building your team around a single player, you aren't building it properly.

Crosby is incredible and you want to support him as best you can, but you simply can't take lower tier linemates because one player has chemistry with them.

IF Canada is going to do something like that I'd prefer they take Sharp and Seabrook to play with Toews and Keith far more than taking Kunitz to play with Crosby.

Put Crosby with whoever isn't going on the team. Build lines around him with a rag-tag group of misfits who don't gel elsewhere. Worked ok for Canada last time.

Love Kunitz as a player, but there are so many players ahead of him on the depth chart for Canada that I think it would be a real travesty to see him selected for the team.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Kunitz lovefest seriously has to stop, hes a glorified third liner. What happens if Crosby gets injured? Then where does Kunitz play?

Crosby in the past has shown he can play with elite talent. Ask yourself if the Pens had a choice of playing Nash/Benn/Lucic etc with Sid versus Kunitz, who would they choose?

Kunitz did quite well on his own when Crosby was injured.

[moon]

Kunitz is a top 10 scorer this year, they aren't adding Crosby buddy from Cole Harbor.

[trackercowe]

Will Canada need to change its lineup based on how the American team is built? They took out skilled guys like Ryan and Yandle, and instead brought in Burke's "truculent" dimension. My buddy also made a good point as to why they brought Orpik and Martin, which would be to shut Crosby down (along with Bylsma as their head coach). The European teams will likely be more skilled though, and Canada is not in a group with the Americans, so they might not even end up playing them.

[moon]

Canada shouldn't have to change anything about its game/roster based on any other team, especially the Americans.

Most of the skilled guys are strong/tough enough that they can handle playing against anyone and Orpik/Martin should be a dream match-up for Crosby to play against as it means he avoids the better player in Suter.

As mentioned before a Toews/Bergeron/Whoever (hopefully Sharp) would be a tough enough line that can cycle and lean on guys. Getzlaf/Perry/Whoever will have a lot of size to bang bodies. Crosby can take guys on physically one on one as well.

Guys like Tavares, Stamkos are strong enough and will beat big, truculent guys with skill if need be.

[Da_Chief]

I'm not gonna waste my time and pull up Kunitz's stats with and without Crosby. The fact is their are several better players then Kunitz that deserve to play ahead of him.

Guys I would take:

Nash-Crosby-Stamkos
Tavares-Getzlaf-Perry
E. Staal-Toews-Giroux
Benn-Thornton-Seguin
x-Hall and Duchene

Keith-Seabrook
Subban-Weber
Doughty-Pietrangelo
Boumeester

Luongo
Price
Smith

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Dion

Kunitz did quite well on his own when Crosby was injured.

Doing so well with Crosby helped to boost his confidence. Combine high confidence with something to prove (that he is good with or without Crosby) and he'll still do well. However, he would not have been in that position if he never played with Crosby. Even though he did well without Crosby, his pace still dropped off. He also has the benefit of playing either with Malkin, or on the 2nd line behind Malkin and thus the coverage on him wouldn't be as intense.